*Weekly mileage ~ Dec. 5-11*

Mileage for the week of December 5th – December 11th

Total weekly mileage: 35.5

Total December mileage: 59

Total year-to-date (2016) mileage: 1,388.75

Week in review:

12/5      No run/rest day

12/6      47:26 min./5.25 mi./9:02 pace

12/7      31:56 min./3.62 mi./8:49 pace (+.40 – watch didn’t sync) (NP)

26:56 min./3 mi./8:59 pace

12/8       No run

12/9      45:09 min./5 mi./9:01 pace

12/10    27:40 min./3.11 mi./8:54 pace

37:46 min./4.14 mi./9:08 pace

12/11    1:28:06 min./11 mi./8:05 pace

Making the transition back into marathon training in the heart of the holiday season is a wee bit tricky! I knew it would be… I missed a run this week due to an error in judgement Wednesday night at a holiday gathering that resulted in a gnarly hangover. Of course, I should know better… but I am human and slip up from time to time. Lesson learned and onward.

The skipped run resulted in me missing my weekly mileage goal by 4.5 miles but it’s not the end of the world. I had a strong long run on Sunday and got in a good hilly session with the November Project on Wednesday so not all was lost.

I’ve rearranged the early part of my training schedule for this week to accommodate another party but I’m shooting for 42 miles this week. My goal is to make this week and next really count before the Christmas/New Year’s whirlwind!

Have a great week!

*Weekly mileage ~ Nov. 14-20*

Mileage for the week of November 14th – November 20th

Total weekly mileage: 26.5

Total November mileage: 90.25

Total year-to-date (2016) mileage: 1,293.5

Week in review:

11/14      No run/rest day

11/15      30:15 min./3.5 mi./8:37 pace

11/16      31:20 min./3.52 mi./8:54 pace (+1.98 mi. of hill repeats at NP) (5.5 mi. total)

11/17     48:01 min./6 mi./7:59 pace

11/18     31:51 min./4 mi./7:57 pace

11/19     No run/7.5 mi. hike

11/20     1:01:29 min./7.5 mi./8:12 pace

This week turned out to be a little lower in overall mileage but I made up for it with some good cross-training between the workout with the November Project and my hilly little hike Saturday. (My glutes are still sore from that hike too!)

My hope is to up my mileage a little bit this week since I have some extra time in the mornings. My son is out of school for the holiday so I get a break from the morning prep/drop-off routine, not to mention a long weekend coming up. What better way to fill that space than with some extra miles and added strength training?

I’m eager to dive into training but I really want to focus the next few weeks on building some strength and creating a solid foundation for when I do jump in. That, and create a plan of attack for the Christmas and New Year holidays so I don’t completely derail myself. Then balls to the wall come January!

*Weekly mileage ~ Nov. 7-13*

Mileage for the week of November 7th – November 13th

Total weekly mileage: 31

Total November mileage: 63.75

Total year-to-date (2016) mileage: 1,267

Week in review:

11/7      No run/rest day

11/8      42:21 min./5.25 mi./8:04 pace

11/9      35:35 min./4 mi./8:54 pace (+ 2.5 mi. at November Project)

11/10     48:08 min./6 mi./8:01 pace

11/11     33:14 min./4 mi./8:17 pace

11/12     26:09 min./3 mi./8:41 pace

11/13     51:15 min./6.2* mi./8:15 pace (Griffith Park Trail 10k)

*According to my GPS, the Griffith Park Trail 10k course was quite a bit short… my watch calculated the course to only be 5.79 miles with my average pace being 8:50 rather than 8:15. With my warm-up (.55 mi.) prior to the event, I know I ran at least 6.25 miles for the day. I’m never sure how to calculate these types of discrepancies but I’m very careful not to give myself credit for running mileage I did not run.

Given that, as I mentioned in my previous post, I walked away with a 2nd place finish, I’m completely content with how the week unfolded. I had a couple of great runs and a good workout with November Project. Everything seemed to come together how I had hoped it would.

I’m a little in flux as I begin a new week with no immediate goals… I’m still sorting out how I want to tackle my next big one. I’ve got some time but I’m anxious to get to it! ; )

Have a fantastic week!

*Ready to go!*

It’s official! My next race will be the Griffith Park Trail 10k on Sunday, November 13th!

I’m really excited to get back to trail running! My intention this year was to make the switch from predominately road running/racing to trail. However, having moved into the heart of the city, it hasn’t worked out the way I’d hoped. While I’m super grateful for the abundance of mountain trails neighboring the urban landscape, it’s been tricky to get out as much as I’d like. The nearest trail is about three miles from my place and while it’s better than nothing, it’s not very long and way too congested for my taste. (The user demographic seems to be primarily twenty-something-year-old girls that are more interested in showing off their latest Victoria Secret Pink “workout” wear than actually working out. But that’s LA for ya.)

Anyway, there are options and I need to make it a bigger priority to get out and explore. Now that I’m not immediately training for any big distances… that could change soon though… ; ) I’m looking forward to switching gears and hitting the trails a bit more frequently!

Breaking in new trail shoes!

Today was my first day back on the dirt and it went better than I expected! Being just 13 days post-marathon, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve been taking it pretty easy the past week but felt pretty good overall and feel like I’m ready to transition back into training mode.

My fancy training plan.

I’m still tweaking my plan but I’ve got a basic outline. As long as our family schedule works in my favor, I’m hoping to hit the November Project each week. I was successful this past Wednesday and hope I can continue to go on a regular basis. My other cross-training goal is to get at least one solid yoga session in, ideally a class, weekly. Last Monday I opted to hit my mat at home for 30 minutes but I really feel a class would do me some good so I’m going to try to make a bigger effort in the coming weeks.

It’s coming together and I’m ready to go!

*Weekly mileage – June 6-12*

Mileage for the week of June 6th – June 12th

Total weekly mileage: 37.25

Total June mileage: 59.5

Total year-to-date (2016) mileage: 508

Run review:

6/6      25:37 min./3 mi./8:33 pace

6/7      36:56 min./4.5 mi./8:13 pace

6/8       34:34 min./4.25 mi./8:07 pace

6/9       22:07 min./2.5 mi./8:51 pace

6/10     1:27:31 min./10 mi./8:45 pace

6/11      57:40 min./7 mi./8:14 pace

6/12      49:35 min./6 mi./8:16 pace

I’m happily starting to feel like a runner again! The focus of having something to work toward, to train for, to plan on… it must do something to my brain chemistry because I feel clearer. Even though my motivation wanes from time to time, I feel it guiding me right now to put is some solid effort.

While I’m currently running 7 days a week, as part of the Runner’s World run streak challenge, and carefully building my long run distance, my real focus right now is building strength. I’m doing weight-bearing training at least four days a week and trying to take advantage of the November Project workouts once a week. Later, I’ll bring in some speed work and maybe more hill training later but I still very much feel like I’m building a solid base and honestly, I want to be STRONG! I want a sturdy foundation to build upon. I’m hopeful that it will help keep me from suffering from the little annoying pains that have plagued me throughout previous training cycles and being leaner and faster wouldn’t hurt my feelings.

Cheers to a great week of training!

*The proof is in the pudding*

Following up on my post yesterday… I really did, er, sort of, map out a training plan…

Nineteen weeks of long run mileage on the calendar.

There is some wiggle room in the design but at this point, for each three-week cycle, I build for two weeks and then drop my mileage back down. I think it’s a good place to start but truthfully, I’ll probably switch things around near the halfway point. I’d rather train up to 22-miles than max out at 20. That practice has served me well in the past.

I still need to fill in the gaps and figure out what the rest of my training looks like. I really want to commit to the November Project workouts on Wednesday mornings. Also, during past training cycles I’ve always taken Mondays, following my long run on Sunday, off. However, I think I’m going to make Monday an easy run day instead. Mix it up a little and see what happens.

So with this as my guide, I’m off and running. Literally and figuratively. I ran my first “long” training run this morning. A whoppin’ 8.25 miles that despite a few fleeting moments of heavy and fatigued legs, I finished feeling strong and happy to be back at it!

Oh, and my new mantra (as seen in the pic above):

NEVER HOPE FOR IT MORE THAN YOU WORK FOR IT.

It’s time to stop wishing that I was where I was a few months ago and start doing the work to get myself back there. Am I right?

As they say, the proof is in the pudding so we’ll see where all of this ends up!

*Weekly mileage ~ May 16-22*

Mileage for the week of May 16th – May 22nd

Total weekly mileage: 32.25

Total May mileage: 76

Total year-to-date (2016) mileage: 410

Run review:

5/16      40:22 min./5 mi./8:04 pace

5/17      59:07 min./5.25 mi./11:12 pace

5/18     1.5 mi. (NP) + 25:09 min./3 mi./8:23 pace

5/19     34:33 min./4 mi./8:37 pace

5/20     24:29 min./3 mi./8:08 pace

5/21     49:06 min./6 mi./8:11 pace

5/22     42:45 min./5 mi./8:33 pace

I’m so grateful for how this past week played out! With each and every mile, my confidence is being restored and I’m feeling like my old self. Originally, I was shooting for a 25-mile week so hitting a little more than 32 is pretty frickin’ awesome. As I wrote about a few days ago, I cracked my comfort zone wide open when I went to the November Project workout and, to finish the week, I found $100 bucks on my run yesterday!!!

Five miles and $100 big ones later… Boom!!!

This week is another transition week and looks to be a bit on the crazy side but I’m going to do my best to keep truckin’ along!

Have a great week!

*November Project >< Just Show Up*

As promised in my previous post, I’m happy to report that I did NOT chicken out yesterday and attended my very first November Project workout.

Guys! The whole vibe is seriously awesome!

I know it’s not offered in all cities, and you’ll have to check their website to find locations, but if you are anywhere near one, you need to go get some free fitness! As they say, Just Show Up!

I’ve been hearing about November Project for a few years thanks to my Nuun teammates. There was also a great write-up about the movement in an issue of Runner’s World a couple of years ago. It pretty accurately describes my experience.

There are several workouts throughout the city hosted by November Project but they meet at the same place each Wednesday morning, offering two early sessions. I went to the 5:27 (Yep, not 5:30, 5:27) workout because I have to work around our school schedule but they offer one immediately following at 6:27 too. The Wednesday workouts will likely be the only ones I attend because they are held at the Hollywood Bowl which isn’t too far from where I live. The others are pretty spread out and, well, I’m not crazy about driving here.

Anyway, I was immediately greeted with a hug, because that’s their thing, and chatted with a few people until we were called to gather around the leader. The new kids were called to the center and the entire “tribe” bounced up and down while doing call-and-response to Ooga Chaka. I think I had a smile on my face the entire time.

The main workout was timed for 30 minutes, running around the perimeter of the bowl and stopping at six stations to do jump squats, push ups, mountain climbers, triceps dips, plank and lateral hops with a partner, and bear crawl for about 20 feet before repeating the loop.

There is one side of the bowl that is super steep that I walked the second and third times I did the loop but overall, I ran approximately a mile and a half. After that portion of the workout was done, they set a timer for seven minutes and we were instructed to do as many burpees as possible within that time frame.

At this point, after 45 or so minutes of being surrounded by about 60 of the most positive, happy to be working out at six in the morning, and constantly smiling people I’ve ever worked out with, the groans broke loose and smiles were replaced with a look of anguish.

I played it safe and paced myself. For a girl who doesn’t like burpees (who does, right?), hasn’t done them in many months, and isn’t in the greatest of shape, I was pretty proud of the 42 I accomplished.

As the burpee challenge finished, we were summoned to a tiered grassy area for some announcements about the location for the workout on Friday morning, recognition for a birthday, and a presentation of a “spirit stick” to one of the regular members. Plus a group photo, which I believe is a mainstay of the movement.

I was back in my car by 6:28 where I promptly high-fived myself for finding the courage to get out of bed at 4:30 AM and out of my comfort zone. It was very well worth it and I’m hoping to make it a weekly date.

This morning I woke up nice and sore, as I expected. I haven’t experienced this much discomfort following a workout in quite a while so it is a welcome reminder of why I love being active and fit.

I highly recommend that you check November Project out if you’re in one of the select cities it is offered in.